Young people working in an animal rescue project in Soweto are helping sick creatures and educating others about animal cruelty. It's also giving them a sense of purpose.
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00:00this dog was injured with a machete two young volunteers are out on a rescue mission I'm not
00:13happy about the cage and the grass as well yeah because it's going to get like ticks and fleas
00:20yeah and will affect them the world do you see it's already entering the do you see the grass
00:26Lila and sickler work for SARAC an animal welfare organization in the township of Soweto Johannesburg
00:34it's focused on animal rescue and raising awareness of cruelty to animals it provides
00:40young people who once feared or mistreated animals themselves with an opportunity to learn how to care
00:46for them and see them as living creatures deserving of protection and it gives them a sense of purpose
00:52we have realized that for us to effectively change the way animals are perceived is by changing the
01:03young minds educating the young minds hence we've enlisted the help of community children this cage
01:10is far too small animal cruelty is on the rise in South Africa and the 1962 animal cruelty act still
01:18the basis of animal welfare legislation is outdated and doesn't address today's challenges minor penalties
01:24fail to deter offenders the dog's owner gets away with a warning updates the owner but the negative
01:31impacts of keeping it in a closed-up cage and the grass as well sickler used to be a troublemaker himself
01:39working in animal rescue has changed him with sicker sicker any time you need to see this it is there
01:46according to your parents very problematic since he has been around anymore he's like sharing that
01:52energy with animals so this one is the one you love the most okay these dedicated young rangers have
01:59come to understand the value of protecting animals they always say that if you buy a pet you grow the
02:08pet but then it's actually the other way around because once you start loving it caring for it it'll do
02:14the same thing